ADB to Save Asian Wetlands

MANILA - The Asian Development Bank (ADB) says it will help China protect Yancheng, one of Asia's largest coastal wetlands, which is an important winter site for threatened red-crowned cranes.

The wetlands have been under threat from land reclamation for aquaculture and food crops, road building, pollution from upstream and invasion of alien species.

The Manila-based ADB said it approved a $650 000 grant to help Beijing launch a protection project for the four million-hectare stretch of mud flats, creeks, salt marshes and reed beds on the east China coast that is threatened by environmental degradation.